Nine-year-old Evan Cousineau was a vibrant three-sport athlete when he was diagnosed with a genetic metabolic disease. Our lives were turned upside down on May 1, 2007 when we were told that Evan had NO HOPE. Because of our "Fight for Evan", we now fight for every patient and family in need by raising awareness and helping educate the nation about donation in all capacities, so we all have HOPE!!

This website is designed as an informational resource for expectant parents, patients and their families, as well as health-care professionals, researchers and the general public.

Cord blood is used to treat a variety of diseases, ranging from anemia and cancers of the blood such as leukemia and lymphomas, to disorders such as sickle-cell disease and severe combined immunodeficiency or "bubble boy disease."

Through the Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program, mothers of newborns will be able to donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood and have it publicly banked so it is available to anyone for lifesaving transplantations.

Cord blood is also valuable to researchers searching for new clinical uses of stem cells.

Cord blood donations are accepted in the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento areas.

To learn more, please explore our hyperlinks or contact us at 844-734-CORD (2673)

When Amalia Kessler was pregnant with her first child, Stella, in 2008, she knew she didn’t want to waste the baby’s valuable umbilical cord blood, which can be a life-saving source of stem cells used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Entrance to San Clemente’s new swim complex is named the Evan Cousineau Reception Lobby after a 9-year-old water-sports enthusiast who died in 2007 of complications from a rare genetic disorder. His family is the driving force for Be a Hero, Become a Donor, a foundation that aims to save lives through donations of blood, marrow, cord blood, organs and tissue.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Life sometimes carries us to deep, dark, places. This is a story about climbing out. It starts with a self-absorbed drug dealer standing before a federal judge in Minneapolis. Michael Bellotti was 24 years old, a veteran of multiple arrests - and newly sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Bellotti couldn't have slipped much lower. Turns out, that's what it took for him to begin picking himself back up. Encouraged by another inmate, Bellotti started painting. Once he started, he couldn't stop.

He painted Evan's portrait - you will see it in the bottom right he's wearing a suit & red tie...

“Her dream was to have her own organic ranch some day,” Sachen said. “She was an incredible kid. She was such a wise old soul, very intelligent.” Sachen, of Aliso Viejo, created a foundation called Savannah's Organic Ranch in his daughter's honor and has been planting organic gardens at Orange County schools in her name ever since.